Press for cotton, wool, hay, and the like, and feeding device therefor.



No. 841,689. 4 PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

w. M. HOLMES.

PRESS FOR COTTON, WOOL, HAY, AND THE LIKE, AND FEEDING DEVICE THEREFOR.I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1900.

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ii i7zessea. 1720676207 772529072 fliflazmecs MW MFLMWQ No. 841,689.PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907. W. M. HOLMES. PRESS FOR COTTON, WOOL, HAY, ANDTHE LIKE, AND FEEDING DEVICE THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1900.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WATSON M. HOLMES, OF HOOSIQK FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PLANTERS (JOMPRESS COMPANY, A (JOB- PORATION OFMAINE.

PRESS FOR COTTON, WOOL, HAY, AND THE LIKE, AND FEEDING DEVICE THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed February 3, 1900. Serial No. 3,771.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WATSON M. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hoosick-Falls, in the county of Rensselaer and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Press for Cotton, Wool, Hay, andthe Like and Feeding Devices Therefor, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to resses for cotton, wool, hay, and the like andfeeding devices therefor.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of presses ofthe type set forth in the patents to George A. Lowry, No. 581,600 andNo. 581,601, dated April 27, 1897, and No. 630,369, dated August 8,1899.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for efficientlyfeeding or resenting the material to the press, whereiiy bales ofuniform density throughout are produced.

Other objects of the invention Wlll appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, andfinally pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views andreference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview of a press constructed in ac cordance with the principles of myinvention and showing the a plication of the feeding devices thereto. 2is a view in top plan of the feed-hopper, the guiding-sheathing beingremoved. Fig. 3 is a central section on the line 3 3, Figs. 1 and 2.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

In a press of the said type is employed a compression sleeve or chamberand a head plate or cap provided with feed-slots therethrough, theseparts being mounted for relative movement. The present invention relatesto a press of this type, and in the drawings is shown a com ressionsleeve or chamber 5 and a head-p ate or cap 9, provided with feed-slots,these parts being suitably supported upon a frame (indicated at 4.) Therelative movement of these parts may be secured by rotating either oneor both. 'In

the particular form shown, .to which, however, the invention is notlimited or restricted, rotation is imparted to the slotted headplate orcap. An annular ring 7, to which the head-plate or ca 9 is bolted orotherwise secured, is provide with raclcteeth formed on or carriedthereby, with which rack intermeshes a pinion 8, driven from the mainshaft of the machine or other suitable or convenient source. In order toreduce the friction of the relative rotation or movement of the partsand at the same time to provide means for taking up and resisting theend thrust develop ed in the operation of the machine, one of therotating arts of the machine may carry suitable rdllers arranged to havebearing upon the other part. For instance, in the particular formshownthe compression sleeve or chamber 5 may be providedwith an annularflange 6 to form a bearing or track for a series of rollers 10, suitablymounted and journaled upon the rack-ring 7. By this construction thefriction of the rotating cap or headlate is reduced and the end thrusteXerte upon the cap or head-plate by the pressure to which it issubjected uring the o eration of the ress is efficiently resisted antaken up. f desired and as shown, another series of rollers 11 may besuitably mounted and journalecl u on one of the parts of the press, asupon t e rack or ring 7, and have bearing agamst the other part, asagainst the surface of the compressionsleeve 5, thereby efiicientlycentering the compression-sleeve and head-plate or cap and holding theseparts in centered relation with respect to each other. These rollers 11also serve to reduce the friction of the rotating part of the press.

In the operation of a press of the type set forth and embodyin theconstruction above described the materlal to be pressed is presented tothe head-plate or cap and in sufiicient proximity to the feed-slotstherein for the fibers of such material to become engaged by orinterlaced with the fibers of the material previously introduced to thecompression chamber or sleeve, and is thereby drawn through such slotsin the form of thin flat condensed sheets or layers from which theair-has been expelled, and which flat, condensed, and compressed sheetsor layers are superimposed in flat spirals upon the end of the mass ofmaterial previously drawn through the feedslots, thus building up thematerial in the form of a column in a highly compressed and condensedstate, and in the construction above described the rotating part of thepress is held and maintained in centered relation with respect to thestationary part, the friction is greatly reduced, and the end thrust dueto the pressure of the compressed material against the inner surface ofthe head-plate or cap is taken up and resisted.

In the efficient operation of a press embodying the principles above setforth the material to be pressed is placed or delivered upon thehead-plate or cap. It may sometimes occur that such material when thusdelivered will drop more directly above one part of the upper surface ofthe material already under pressure than above the rest of the surface,thus resulting in feeding or drawing a greater quantity of the materialthrough the feed-slots at one particular pointthat is to say, the loosematerial becomes intermeshed with the material in thecompression-chamber at or very close to the spot where it first strikesthe head-plate, as the material remains stationary while the thehead-plate revolves. This is objectionable for the reason that thereby agreater density is thus imparted to the compressed column at one or morepoints than at others and the compressed column when it emerges from thepress is more or less warped or crooked. This is particularly true inthe form of press wherein the compressed column is stationary and thehead-plate or cap revolves. It is one of the important objects of myinvention to provide a construction wherein the material to be pressedis presented uniformly above the upper surface of the material alreadyunder pressure, thus securing uniformity of feed of the material throughthe slots, and hence also uniformity in the density throughout thecompressed mass and producing a compressed column of symmet ricaldimensions and appearance.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a construction foraccomplishing the desired objects and wherein reference-sign 12designates uprights or standards suitably supported upon the frame ofthe machine, and upon these standards is suitably supported a fixedannular rack 13. Upon eX- tensions 14 of the standards 12 or otherwiseare suitably journaled rollers 15, arranged to form a bearing for and tosupport a track 17, formed on or supported by an annular ring 16, havingrack-teeth. Intermeshing with the teeth of this rack is a pinion 18,arranged to be driven from any suitable or convenient.

source. In han 'ers 19, carried by ring 16, are journaled rollers 20 21,arranged to extend parallel to each other and transversely of the ring16, on opposite sides of the geodownwardly and inwardly from the upperrollers 20 21 and are yieldingly connected at their lower ends, as bymeans of springs 26. Mounted upon the rollers 20 24 is a traveling belt,band, or carrier 27, and a similar belt, band, or carrier 28 is mountedon the rollers 21 25. In order that the material to be fed may beproperly presented, the belts, bands, or carriers 27 28 should beactuated in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. Anysuitable arrangement of gearing may be employed for actuating thecarriers 27 28. I have shown a convenient and simple arrangement whereina pinion 31 is suitably journaled upon a bracket or hanger 29, carriedby the ring 16, said pinion being arranged to intermesh with therack-teeth of ring 13. Suitably connected to the shaft 30 of pinion 31is a sprocket or other form of gear 32, and said sprocket and a similarsprocket or gear 33 on the shaft of roller 2 1 are engaged by a sprocketchain or belt 34, whereby said roller 21 is driven. The roller 20 mayalso be driven and in any suitable manner, but in an oppo sitedirection, as by means of a crossed belt 37, engaging suitable pulleys35 36 onthe shafts of rollers 21 and 20, respectively. A funnel-shapedsheathing 38 may be em ployed as a hopper to direct the materialdelivered to the press into the space between the traveling belts 27 28,the spout or chute delivering from the condenser of the gin or othersuitable or convenient source being indicated at 39. The operation ofthis part of my invention is as follows: Rotation is imparted to theshaft of pinion 18. By reason of the engagement of this pinion with therack 16 said rack is revolved, the track 17 thereof resting andtraveling upon the rollers 15. By reason of the rotary movement of rack16 and the engagement of the gear 31, supported thereon, with the fixedrack 13 said gear 31. is axially revolved, thereby imparting rotation torollers 21 and 20, and hence effecting, as above described, a travel ofthe belts, bands, or carriers 28 27 and in opposite directions, asindicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.. These belts, bands, or carriers areinclined downwardly and toward each other, as clearly shown, and, asshown, they are of considerable width. Thus they serve to partiallycondense the loose material delivered to the machine and deposit thesame upon the head-plate or cap. By operating pinion 18 at a slower orfaster speed than that at which the revolving part of the press operatesor by operating said pinion 18 in the opposite direction with respect tothat of the revolving part of the press or otherwise varying therelative speeds or ITO IIS

signed for use in a press of the type described and shown, wherein thehead plate revolves.

It is obvious that many changes and variations in the details of.construction and arrangement would readily occur to persons skilled inthe art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I donot desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exactconstruction and arrangement shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and aconstruction em bodying the principles thereof and having set forth,described, and explained such construction, its function, and mode ofoperation, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a press, compressing devices including a slotted headplate or cap,in combination with a feed-hopper, revolubly mounted, and means forfeeding the material through said hopper and delivering the same in linewith the slot in said head-plate or cap, as and for the purpose setforth.

2. In a press, compressing devices, including a slotted head-plate orcap, in combination with a feed-hopper mounted to revolve relatively tosaid head-plate or cap, feedaprons mounted in said hopper and arrangedto deliver the material through said hopper and to said head-plate orcap, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a press, a feeding device comprising a feed-hopper, a rackconnected thereto, a

pinion for revolving said rack, a stationary rack, a pinion carried'bysaid hopperand engaging said stationary rack, and means actuated by saidlast-mentioned pinion for feeding the material through said feedhopper,as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a press, a feed hopper, feedingaprons carried thereby, means forrotating said hopper, and means for actuating said feeding-aprons, asand for the purpose set forth.

5. In a press, a feed hopper, feedingaprons carried thereby, means forrotating said hopper, and means operated by the rotating movement ofsaid hopper for actuating said feeding-aprons, as and for the pur poseset forth.

6. In a press, a feed-hopper, means for rotating the same,feeding-aprons carried by said hopper, said aprons being inclineddownwardly and toward each other, and means for actuating said aprons,as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a press, a feed-hopper, means for rotating the same, rollersjournaled upon said hopper, and carrying-arms, cooperating rollerscarried by said arms, feeding-aprons carried by said rollers, and meansfor actuating said rollers, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a press, a feed-hopper, means for rotating the same, rollersjournaled upon said hopper and carrying-arms, cooperating rollerscarried by said arms, means for yieldingly holding said cooperatingrolls in proximity to each other, feeding-aprons carried by saidrollers, and means for actuating said rollers, as and for the purposeset forth.

9. In a press, a feed-hopper, means for rotating the same,feeding-aprons carried by said hopper, a pinion also carried by saidhopper, a stationary rack engaged by said pinion, and gearing actuatedby said pinion for operating said feeding-aprons, as and for the purposeset forth.

10.. In a press, means to hold the compressed material, including amoving feedingabutment at one end of the material, said abutment havingpassages therethrough for the uncompressed material; in combination withmeans to deliver the uncompressed material to the feeding-abutment anddistribute it with respect to the end of the mass of compressedmaterial.

11. In a press, means to hold the compressed material, including amovingfeedingabutment at one end of the material, said abutment havingpassages therethrough for the uncompressed material; in combination witha movable condensing device arranged to deliver the uncompressedmaterial to the feeding-abutment; means to actuate the condensing deviceand means to move the delivery end thereof relatively to the compressedmass, to distribute the uncompressed material. toward different parts ofthe adjacent surface of said mass of compressed material.

12. In a press, means to hold the compressed material, including amoving feedingabutm'ent at one end of the material, said abutment havingpassages therethrough for 'the uncompressed material; in combinationwith a feeding device movably mounted adj acent to the feeding-abutmentand arranged to traverse near to all parts of said end of the mass ofcompressed material in succession, and means to actuate the same.

13. In a press, means to hold the compressed material, including amoving feedingabutment at one end of the material, said abutment havingpassages therethrough for the uncompressed material; in combination witha feeding device movably mounted ad- ITO j acent to thefeeding-abutment, said feeding device being arranged to concentrate itsdelivery upon a lim ted area of the feedingabutment, and means to shiftthe line of delivery to positions adjacent successively to diii'erentportions of the end of the mass of compressed material.

14. In a press, means to hold the compressed material, including amoving feedingabutment at one end of the material, said abutment havingpassages therethrough for the uncompressed material; in combination Witha pair of converging feeding-aprons arranged to deliver material to thefeedingabutment at their converging end, and means to shift the positionof said feeding-aprons With respect to the adjacent surface ofcompressed material 15. In a press, means to hold the compressedmaterial, including a moving feedingabutment at one end of the material,said abutment having passages therethrough for the uncompressedmaterial; in combination With a pair of converging feeding-apronsrotatively mounted With respect to the compressed mass and arranged todeliver material to the feeding-abutment, and means to actuate thefeeding-aprons and to rotate the pair of them with respect to theadjacent sun face of compressed material.

16. In a press, means to hold the compressed material, including amoving feedingabutment at one end of the material, said pressedmaterial, including a moving feeding abutment at one end of the materialsaid abutment having passages therethrough for the uncompressedmaterial, said compressed material being held in a stationary position;in combination with a feeding device arranged to deliver uncompressedmaterial to the feedingabutment, said feeding device being rotativelymounted With respect to the mass of compressed material, and means torotate the feeding device to bring the delivery of the same successivelyto different portions of the adjacent surface of said mass.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 27th day ofJanuary, 1900, in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

WATSON W. HOLMES.

Witnesses: D. W. HoWLAND,

VVM. M. RHEEM.

